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Three Wins Leads Kevin Mendez to PacWest Freshman of the Week

By Rob Garcia

Holding the line with consistently tough defense in three wins on the Urban Knights’ Hawaiian roadtrip, goalkeeper Kevin Mendez (Advertising) earned his second Pacific West Conference Freshman of the Week this season. The award was based on games played Sept. 28–Oct. 4.

Beginning with BYU-Hawaii on Sept. 28, Mendez earned his first PacWest win with three saves and the lone goal allowed as part of a 2–1 victory. The Seasiders sent a total of eight shots in Mendez’s direction in the second half, but he and the ART U defense held their opponent scoreless while senior midfielder Kristof Urbanyi (Motion Pictures & Television) provided the game-winner in the 60th minute. The Urban Knights then defeated Chaminade by the same 2–1 score on Oct. 1 with Mendez offering one save with one goal allowed in another 90 minutes of action between the pipes.

The final day, Oct. 3, pit the Academy against UH Hilo and Mendez joined his teammates in notching their third consecutive win after a career-high eight saves kept the final score 2–1. He held the Vulcans scoreless for the final 75:10, allowing the Urban Knight to score midway through the second overtime for the win.

For the week, Mendez allowed just three goals in 283:41 minutes of work with 13 saves. His 44 stops rank second in the PacWest.

This is the third weekly honor for Mendez this season after his Freshman award and Defender award.